A Dove's Tale

Chapter 191

I'd thought my wedding party was large, with all seven of Chevalier's brothers as groomsmen and a matching set of seven bridesmaids, but Arianna's was larger. She had nine of each. Nine groomsmen; nine bridesmaids. All seven of Luke's brothers plus Silvio and Rio. I was the maid of honor; Theresa, Belle, and Elise were bridesmaids; and five Benitoitian noblewomen I didn't know filled the rest of the quota.

I walked down the aisle on Chevalier's arm, and then I turned to the left and took my place at the altar to watch the rest of the wedding procession. Theresa and Jin came next, and then Clavis and Belle, and Leon and Elise, and on through the rest of the Rhodolitian princes, ending with Silvio and Rio.

Arianna's choice of pink and lavender created a soft spring feeling out of season that suited her fair skin and curly blonde hair well. I liked the color combination and the dresses she chose much better than those of Belle's wedding, although I'd never say that to Belle.

The bodice of each dress was pastel pink embroidered with lavender roses and ocean waves, and the lacy pink sleeves and floor-length, fluffy pink skirts ensured I didn't have to worry about coverage. My dress also had the occasional lavender tulle peeking out from the pink layers of the skirt, while the other bridesmaids' dresses had pink tulle.

The seamstresses had finished my dress only a few days ago, thanks to my growing belly altering my measurements.

I glanced across the altar at Chevalier. He narrowed his crystal blue eyes, flicking them to the chair behind me and returning his pointed gaze to me. I ignored both him and the chair, turning my eyes back to the procession. He'd insisted upon placing the chair there, but I didn't have to use it.

"Ivetta, sit down!" Theresa hissed in my ear.

"I feel fine," I hissed back.

"Sit down, or I'll push you into that chair. And nobody will stop me."

I sighed and shot a glare at Chevalier. The corner of his lip turned up in a hint of a smirk. I should have known he'd conspire with Theresa.

"After Arianna arrives," I whispered.

"You'd better," Theresa warned me.

It felt awkward, sitting through the service while the rest of the wedding party stood. Chevalier and I had argued about it earlier this morning, and I decided we would argue about it again when the ceremony ended. Jin and Theresa's wedding was fast approaching, and I wouldn't sit through another wedding. Not when I'd had no dizzy spells since Belle's wedding.

Luke finally kissed Arianna, and we began the wedding party's lengthy exit into the crisp autumn air, with Chevalier and I following the newlyweds. I waited until our feet touched the browning grass to open my mouth.

"Chevalier—"

"You would have felt worse if you had fainted," he said without breaking his stride.

I pursed my lips and fell into a sullen silence. I hated when he was right.

He led me into the palace, and Luke and Arianna split away from us to freshen up before their grand entrance to the ballroom. Myriad guests they hadn't invited to the ceremony but had invited to the reception were already there, milling about, talking, laughing, and drinking champagne, and Chevalier steered me past it all toward the chair he'd reserved for my use.

I knew I was supposed to sit and stay while he left to fetch me refreshments that I didn't want, and I wanted so badly to fight him on this, too, but a single piercing look from him was enough to make me stifle a sigh and comply. I didn't have to look to know my guards had moved to stand behind me.